PESHAWAR:The Qaumi Watan Party has warned that reigniting debate on the abandoned controversial project of Kalabagh Dam at this time is meant to create problems for the federation.

These views were expressed by QWP Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, in a statement issued here on Saturday. He said all of a sudden the Kalabagh Dam issue was brought to limelight despite the fact that the smaller federating units had rejected the controversial project. He said the dam issue had been discussed in the apex court and other circles at a time when the country was facing other serious challenges.

Mr Sherpao said the assemblies of the smaller provinces had passed resolutions against the controversial dam, which led to scrapping of the project due to lack of national consensus. He said the smaller provinces had serious reservations over the controversial project because it was a matter of life and death for them.

He said Kalabagh Dam was detrimental to the stability of the federation and the smaller provinces would not allow its construction at any cost.

He said the people had started electioneering and raising this issue would unnecessarily divide the nation, thus putting the vital issues on the backburner.

The seasoned politician said launching the campaign about the Kalabagh Dam issue at this stage was aimed at diverting the attention from the real issues, which was not in the interests of Pakhtuns.

He said that all the political parties and other stakeholders should get united to resolve the water issue in the country through dialogue.

The projects like Diamir-Bhasha Dam and Munda Dam, he said were of vital importance to solve water scarcity and energy problems.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018